Hi, this is my first post here in Great Lakes I am trying to figure out what the Illinois laws are pertaining to bumpers and fenders. I want to chop my stock bumper to a stubby and maybe do a lil fender trim also. Anyone in IL. Know the laws or have these mods and get messed with by the cops? I looked it up online but didn't find anything reliable to feel comfortable pulling out my grinder

 

Shoup is our wheelin' cop. He should be able to chime in about IL laws. Shoup???

 

How about the mirror law also Shoup. I was told that we need both but most jeeps I see running without doors have no mirrors

 

Front bumper has to cover from outsid edge to outside edge of the tires. Second offence is a 500 fine. I have a stubby and haven't been busted yet. I just try to stay away from the state cops. City boys like Shoup have more important shit to worry about than nonsense like that. unless of course that stubby bumper is on a rig that also has spinner rims and smoke rolling out of the windows.(not racial profiling just lifestyle profiling) I have a friend that is a cop here in champaign and I mentioned to him about the risk i was running with the stubby and he wasn't even aware that it was ilegal.

As far as the mirrors go, unless you are towing a trailer you are fine. Then again you may have to argue that point with a trooper. but I would reccommend that you keep your argument to a minimum as with any officer of the law. It's in your best interest.

 

Here you go:

http ://www.ilga.gov//legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=1815&ChapterID=49

Bumpers:

Maximum bumper heights are as follows:
Maximum Front Maximum Rear
Bumper height Bumper Height
All motor vehicles of the first
division except multipurpose
passenger vehicles: 22 inches 22 inches
Multipurpose passenger vehicles
and all other motor vehicles:
4,500 lbs. and under GVWR 24 inches 26 inches
4,501 lbs. through 7,500
lbs. GVWR 27 inches 29 inches
7,501 lbs. through 9,000
lbs. GVWR 28 inches 30 inches
It is unlawful to operate upon any highway of this State any vehicle with a front bumper height that exceeds 28 inches or a rear bumper height that exceeds 30 inches, regardless of the GVWR of the vehicle, except those vehicles covered by Chapter 18b of this Code.
For any vehicle with bumpers or attaching components which have been modified or altered from the original manufacturer's design in order to conform with the maximum bumper requirements of this section, the bumper height shall be measured from a level surface to the bottom of the vehicle frame rail at the most forward and rearward points of the frame rail. The bumper on any vehicle so modified or altered shall be at least 4.5 inches in vertical height and extend no less than the width of the respective wheel tracks outermost distance.

Mirrors:

Sec. 12‑502. Mirrors. Every motor vehicle, operated singly or when towing another vehicle, shall be equipped with a mirror so located as to reflect to the driver a view of the highway for a distance of at least 200 feet to the rear of such motor vehicle.

 

Interesting, so if not towing I don't need side mirrors since I can see 200ft with my rear view mirror on windshield.

Well as far as the bumper..... It's 27 inches from the ground and my stock bumper is 1.5-2" short on each side because of tire size and offset. I guess since I'm already not legit, I might as well make it a stubby.

I just have to remember to take of my spinners when I chop my bumper

 

Oh man! Had no idea stubbys were illegal in IL!!

That sucks!!!!!!

 

I'm not going to worry about it. I do display fireworks and talk to alot of officers in different citys and none of them seem to know much about off road mods and whats legit. I have a feeling as long as your not an ass if you get pulled over they will leave it be. The one thing I want to look into is if its possible or worth getting a truck plate for my JK. I had one officer tell me to try since it would give me more height for my bumper.....but the down side is I would have to put on mud flaps.